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ABC Thought
CHAPTER 2
The next morning
Can't believe I overslept!
Charging in full speed, I'm starting to regret not taking a ride in the first place.
Was it because I wanted to pass by that place again?
Soon I stop for a break at the feet of the Higurashi shrine. And sitting at the middle of the steps is a small white figure, staring down at me.
The heck?! It's that fox from yesterday!
Knowing that I have noticed its presence, it runs up toward to the shrine.
Should I chase after it!? But there's no time and I'm going to be late!
It's not until it's almost at the top of the staircase, starting to disappear out of my sight that I have to make a choice.
Screw it! Being late for one day won't kill me. It's now or never!
Following it up the stairs as fast as I can, even taking double steps at a time and not tripping or falling down for once. I finally be able to reach to the shrine gate in one go, alive and well. Completely different from my messed up image from all the climbing from last time.
Incredible... Is this the power of will that people usually talk about?
Then I make my way toward to the small house, which is so called Bone Eater. And just as expected, it is really sitting right at the door waiting for me.
Just like before, it passes through it and disappears. Quickly I slide the door open to look inside. Small space and old, just like how it looks from the outside. There's wooden staircase leading straight down to an old looking well which is sitting in the middle of the room.
Strangely, that white fox is nowhere to be found even though this is the only way in, and out, no window or whatsoever.
Should I go inside and check? But is it okay to barge inside other people's house without permission?
About to turn back and walk off but the curiosity has once again won me over. And now I'm trying to figure out an excuse if ever Kagome or her family members catches me here.
It will be fine, right? I will just go in and check around for a bit then get out. If by chance getting caught, let's just say that I have gotten lost while wandering around the shrine.
After making sure the excuse's good enough to defend myself. I step into the small house and gently close the door behind me. Then making my way down the steps toward to the well up ahead.
Maybe it's hiding in here?
I take a look inside the well to find it. Only to to greeted by a clear blue sky in return.
What the hell!? Am I seeing things again!?
Not believing in my own two eyes, I lean closer to take a better look and now half of my body is hanging above the cave's entrance. Gulping down a full mouth of actual fresh air coming from the scenery below.
It really IS a SKY, no kidding.
Starting to get a feeling that I had experienced something that I should not have, I slowly withdraw. Imaging falling down there, who knows where I will be ending up at.
Maybe the fox is also real and it escapes through this well to another place, I wonder where this leads to. Still, that's none of my business to find out.
As I'm about to get back on my feet, a sudden force from behind push me forward and I fall right into the well.
*Eh?*
Is the only word I'm able to let out before screaming at the top of my lungs. Turning my head around, I see the white fox from earlier. Sitting at the edge of the well and looking down to me, just like before.
Did it just push me!? Are you for real!?
Soon I reach the bottom with my face, and it hurts like hell. Fighting back the urge to cry, I push myself up to sit on my knees. Checking the ground and hey.
Everything seems normal to me.
But that *normal* only last until the moment I hear birds chirping above my head. Looking up from my spot, I pray to see the Higurashi members rushes over to check on me. And yet what comes across my eyes aren't human but the same clear blue sky from earlier.
No… This can't be happening…
Still in denial, I grab my schoolbag and climb up the vines. While keep telling myself that I'm just being hallucinated due to the fall.
This isn't real…None of this is real…I must have watched too much movie last night, that's all…Please, please!
Once getting out of the *magical well* however, the scene in front of me right now is no longer the old wooden house but a forest.
A whole freaking forest! What the hell is a forest doing here?! Where is the shrine, houses?!
Huge trees are everywhere and the ground is full of green grass, the smell of wind carrying the scent of wild flowers.
Panic again, I look around to find a single clue of where I am at, but to no avail since there is nothing in here that I can recognize. What's worse, I don't even bring a single map with me and not to mention that I am really, really bad at direction…
Where the heck is this place?! Did I just magically teleport or something?
Looking back into the well, I expect to the roof of that old storage just like how it does to the sky earlier but no… It's just the old looking ground.
Hold on, perhaps this thing can lead me back if I jump down again? Since it bring me here, it should be able to bring me back!
With that thought I jump right back in and land with a big thud. Ignore the pain screaming at my butt, I look up again. However nothing changes, above my head is still same old sky.
The only one chance to go home, it's all gone...
That terrible thought hits me straight through my soul and I slouch down next to the cold hard wall. Feeling lost and helpless, tears star flowing out at the corner of my eyes.
I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have followed that dumb fox in the first place. Me and my stupid curiosity!
..
...
No! I can't just give up like this!
After spending a whole good hour crying and blaming myself. I wipe away the tears and climb out of the well again.
This is not the time for me to go weak! I need to find a way to go home!
For starter, I wander around the forest to find for some clues. If in luck I may be able to find a main road or anyone I can ask for direction. I can't stay here alone overnights without any proper food or gears.
Suddenly there's rustling in one of the bushes near my feet and I jump, backing away in fear. "Wha- What?!"
An animal? A Bear? Tiger?!
As I'm about to make a run for my life, a small head pops out of the green leaves and my feet stop.
A little girl?!
She has long black hair and a small ponytail on her head. Perhaps figure that I'm not dangerous, she casually steps out of the bush. Now that I have a better look at her, she seems to be around 8 years old, wearing a yellow and orange checkered robe (Kosode not Kimono)
"Um… Hello?" Cautiously I approach her for a little talk, hoping that she won't run away.
"Hello..." While greeting me, she takes a few steps back.
Good to know that she can speak! A small ray of hope shines through my soul as I sigh in relief.
"What a weird outfit you have there, onee-san."
Therefore she comments, after staring at me from head to toes.
Weird? Have she never seen a school uniform before? Does that mean she never goes to school? Perhaps this forest resides in a rural area?
"It's a uniform from my school. Anyway, what are you doing here alone in the forest? Where are your parents? More importantly, do you know where we are?"
Upon hearing the word *parents*, she fidgets and looks down at her tiny feet. Following her eyes, I realize that she has no shoes on.
"I'm here to find some berries for breakfast...And I don't have any parents."
The girl murmurs and I quickly apologize for my rudeness. Though she brushes it off with an innocent smiles.
"No, it's alright. Onee-san. But I think we're probably at the forest near Kaede's village."
A village? Nice! Maybe I will be able to make a call there! (She doesn't have a mobile phone. It's 1990s)
However when being asked to take me to that place, the girl looks away and hesitates. As if she doesn't want to.
"Please? Pretty please? I'm lost and I have no idea how to go back home. I'm too weak to stay outside alone myself."
I plead with the cutest and most pitiful voice that I never know I have. Yet she doesn't faze and keeps staring at her feet.
"Uhm... I really want to help you but I have to go back soon. Since I can't wander around for too long..."
Noooo! Please, you can't just leave after finding me like this!
"Go back? To where? Is that place civilized? Can you take me there with you?"
"Well…Go back to where Sesshomaru-sama is…"
Suddenly, her face brightens up like she's figured out the most brilliant idea ever. "That's right! Maybe Sesshomaru-sama can help you find your way home!"
"Sesshomaru-sama? Who's that?"
Seriously though, Sama? Who would even address someone like that nowadays?
The girl giggles at my question and offers me her hand.
"Hehe. Sesshomaru-sama is my lord. Come! I will take you there!"
A lord? Now that's something I didn't expect. Would he even bother to help an outsider like me? But it's not that I have any other choice anyway.
Just then her stomach grumbles and she quickly covers her stomach, blushing.
"Aw...I forgot my berries."
Right, she did say that she's looking for some berries for breakfast a while ago. Okay. Let's see what I have here. Maybe I have something that both of us can eat.
After searching inside my bag, I find a small pack of snack. Aha! Chocolate chip cookies!
Opening up the pack, I hand it to her. Cautiously, she puts her hand inside and takes out a piece of cookie, yet keeps staring at it instead of eating. Therefore I take a bite into another piece to ensure her that it's safe to eat.
"Don't worry, it's food and it's not poisoned."
Watching me eat carefully, she takes a small bite onto the cookie. Following with another bigger bite. And judging from her face expression, I can see that she takes great delight in eating the treat.
"It tastes so good! This is the first time I've eaten such a thing! What is this, onee-san? Where can I find more of these?"
She asks me with a mouthful of food. Her eyes are sparkling so bright that I can't help but chuckle.
"It's called cookie, and I'm glad you like it. There are a lot of them back in my place."
"A cookie," she repeats the word amusingly and I cough into my hand, bringing her back into reality.
"Well now that we have food, shall we get going?"
As we're making our way back to *Sesshomaru-sama* place, I recognize something not too far away from us that is not suppose to exist. Quickly, I yank the girl down and crawl our way to the big tree nearby. Much to her confusion.
"What's wrong onee-san?" The girl asks, seeing me bursting into cold sweat.
"Shhh," I gesture her to stay quiet and take a peek through body of the tree.
It can't be, can it? I must be seeing thing again. No way!
Apparently my eyes aren't tricking me. A huge red figure around 2 meters tall, walking around while dragging a big spiky mace that leaving some terrible sound and ugly mark on the ground. It seems to be searching for something and it's obviously not looking so friendly.
Holy hell, that thing is a real deal.
My face turns pale as my hands and feet start shaking horribly. I can understand about Tiger and Bear but an Oni?! I haven't read enough book about Oni to deal with them! And why would I have to learn to survive from monsters?! Aren't they suppose to be just a myth?! Those things don't exist!
"Oh no…An oni!"
The girl gasps yet doesn't sound as terrified as I am. "For god sake, how can you be so calm?! That thing can eat you alive if it's real!"
"They're everywhere in the forest. It's not a surprise seeing one around, there are many more youkai staying here too."
"Did I just hear something wrong? Youkai?"
I frown, not believe in what I just have heard.
"Yup, Youkai."
The girl nods confidently, which makes it even scarier. Seriously, just what kind of world is she living in? And how does she even manage to stay alive till now?!
"Uhm... Do you mind telling me where we are exactly? What do you mean by youkai living in the forest?"
I mumble every single word that only we can hear, the atmosphere is so intense that I can barely breath out loud. I hope she's playing a joke on me. Please say that we are in the middle of film shooting. Please, pretty please!
"What do you mean? I told you we're inside the forest near Kaede's village."
"Are they shooting a movie scene here?"
"What's a movie scene?"
"You know, stuff you watch on a TV every day? Drama and fantasy?"
"What's a TV? The only stuff I watch every day is flower, Ah-Un and Sesshomaru-sama."
The hell is Ah-Un?
"Say…Are we still in Tokyo?"
"Huh? Tokyo? What's that?" The girl looks at me as if I've caught some strange disease.
Therefore I try my best to explain. Hoping that at least she knows what Tokyo is.
"You know a city where there are buildings and cars instead of a mad jungle full of ridiculous youkai things?"
However more questions coming out of the girl's lips causes my heart to skip several beats. "Tokyo? City? Car? What are those? Well there's something I do know that we're currently at the Musashi Province."
I guess you can say that her answers just cleared out most of my confusions...
Excuse me? Musashi province, isn't that the old Tokyo? Did I just travel in time for no reason…?
Her outfit and how she not knowing about the cookie nor recognize my uniform, and even calling someone a lord.
Back in time….in time…?!
Those words slowly sink in, deep and deep inside as I hug my knees tightly, unknowingly beginning to weep in despair.
Does that mean I can no longer return…? I'm stuck here alone forever? It can't be real!
The thought of cannot be with my family and my friends ever again, the thought of being left alone. They terrify me the most.
"Onee-san, are you crying?"
The girl pats my shoulder and persuades me that everything will be okay. Except it's not.
Is this the price I have to pay for skipping school? If so then this is just too ridiculous, this is so unfair! I want to go home and sleep, eat food my mom cooks and take a nice hot bath. I don't want to be here! This is just a dream! I need to wake up! Please, wake up me!
I try everything I can to wake myself up from this ridiculous nightmare but to no avail, I am real, the girl beside me is real, this forest we are standing on is real, that red huge thing walking over there is real. This is no doubt, reality...
No, wait! Perhaps she's too young and live too far away from the city to know about the things that I mentioned?
And I'm pretty sure Oni doesn't exist. Even if they do, I would have known about it. Or else they wouldn't have been considered a myth creature that only appear on scary night story for kids.
Maybe she's an actor? Maybe there are some hidden cameras around here? Maybe there are people inside that Oni suit?
Then a deep, too realistic of a demon growl appears right at my ears. Bonus the sound of heavy dragging metal piece on the ground instantly declines all of my theory and pushes me back into the situation we are in.
Just then I notice that the Oni is now close to our spot and turn panic even more. Oh no! Did it notice us because of me?!
Holding the little girl's hand tightly, I try to figure out as many possible way to escape as I can. Should we run? Is it wise to run now? But there's no doubt that it will catch up to us easily…
Even if it can catch up, I can rely on *That* to survive. However, I can't just let someone else die because of me.
I just can't leave a little girl alone.
"Onee-san, what should we do? Should we run?"
"No. Let's hide here for a while. Maybe it won't find us."
As planned, we sit still in one spot and not making any move. Praying that the oni will not see us and go away. Luckily that even though already sensing our smell, it still can't pin point where our spot exactly is.
This is also a perfect chance for me to check if this Oni is real.
Alright, where's the zipper? Behind its back or in front? Fangs, Claws, Horns, that giant weapon, those red eyes and skin. Somehow they seem to be too real...
In the end I can't find the zipper no matter how much I search, or it's simply not there to begin with. The moment seems to last like a decade until it gives up and walks away from our sight.
Finally feel safe, I sigh in relief and wipe the sweat away with my sleeve. It's so terrifying that I almost forget about being stuck in the strange world.
"Thank you, onee-san, for saving me."
The little girl bows to me in appreciation.
"Oh don't be, I didn't do anything much."
Up till now all we did was hide. It was luck that you had to thank to.
"Tee hee. Okay, onee-san. Anyway, let's us continue. Sesshomaru-sama must be really worried by now!"
Therefore she giggles and helps me to get up.
Seriously, how can this girl keep her mood so positive after what happened?
Still in denial, I ask her once more. "Say, are you an actress?"
"What's an actress?"
"Never mind..."
After a bit more of walking and chatting, I learn that the girl name's is Rin, who was rescued by Sesshomaru-sama from a pack of wolves when she's little.
And now she's traveling together with him, his servant and a Dragon (?) named Ah-Un. Lastly, I realize that the world I am in right now is no longer my home world but the place where dangerous youkai roaming everywhere and human struggle to survive as a daily basic.
"Here we are!"
Rin points at the silver haired person standing in the spot in the middle of the forest, having one's back facing at us.
Silver hair? Am I too hungry and seeing things again?
She then introduce excitedly when we move closer. "That is our lord, Sesshomaru-sama, who knows everything about this area and is very, very strong!"
All of sudden a small green skinned looking thing jumps out next to the figure and charges at us, really angry for some reasons.
"Rin! There you are! Where did you run off to again!? We have been waiting for you for ages. And why is this human girl with you!?"
What surprises me the most is that it can speak proper Japanese.
"I found her being alone not too far away from here." Rin answers and I nod in follow.
Fumed in anger, it points its weird looking staff to my face, yelling. "Found?! What do you mean you found her?!"
This must be the servant she talked about. I push the staff away from my face, getting annoyed by his attitude.
"Hey, it's rude to point your stuff at someone's face, you know."
Perhaps this thing is a Kappa? Except it's wearing clothes and a hat instead of a plate and a turtle shell.
"Do I look like I care how you feel?!"
Ignore my words, it snarls at me then turns to Rin. "Take her back to where you find her right now!"
"But Jaken-sama, she needs our help! It's too dangerous for her to be alone around here! She even agreed to play with me if we let her travel with us."
However Rin refuses his order, holding my hand tightly and having no sight of letting go. Recalling to having begged me to tag along with her a while back. As I figure that it's better to be near people than being alone, not knowing what may happen to me in the dark and not knowing where to go or live.
"Shut up! Don't you already Ah-Un to play with?! And stop lying because there's no way this weakling can save you from an oni!"
Yet this yokai, which is called Jaken, doesn't show any sympathy to my pitiful situation.
"Please believe me, Jaken-sama. Beside Ah-Un is a dragon and it can't talk, I want an actual human girl to be my friend!"
Rin resists and the tension starts to rise.
Feeling guilty that the girl gets scolded because of me, I speak up to calm things down.
"Um… Perhaps I should…"
Unfortunately, none of them listens to what I say. Their faces turn so red from all the shouting. And to make thing worse, Rin begins to sob.
Great, the girl isn't letting go of my hand while crying nonstop. The walking frog doesn't stop yelling and pointing at my face. What a total mess.
"Didn't you hear what I say!? You gotta-Oof"
Suddenly a foot appears out of nowhere and stomps Jaken's head from above, immediately interrupts everything.
Standing in front of me is a tall figure with long silver hair down to waist, wearing a white kimono with an armor looking obi around her stomach, her white pants look almost like a balloon type of pants that keeping air inside and her shoes are black boots up to her ankles.
Quite charming with pale skin and pointy ears. An exotic golden pair of eyes. In the middle of her forehead has some kind of drawing tattoo of crescent moon and two red stripes on each cheek. Though it's not like any of those would be weird enough to ruin her face.
In short, this person is a complete beauty. As if having directly stepped out of a painting and became real.
"Jaken, enough."
She demands with a calm and deep voice, not forgetting to give us a cold glance that mostly aiming at me. With a stoic expression, she points her finger at my face. Revealing a not so normal looking nails. No, they look more like claws, very sharp claws.
"Speak, who are you?"
Fake nails perhaps? And they aren't even that pretty looking. But I can't ignore the fact that she can also be a youkai. I need to be careful being around near this person.
Figures that I've been studying her from head to toes, the woman looks even more annoyed than ever.
"U-uhm. I am just a normal girl who got lost into this place. I follow Rin here in hope that you may help me to find my way home?"
Therefore I explain my reason for being here with them, only to earn a suspicious stare from her in return.
"Hmph. Do not lie to me, vermin. What is your purpose here? Did Naraku send you?"
Sesshomaru frowns, not bother spending one second to consider those words and keeps on demanding the truth. She reeks of that disgusting human scent yet there's another smell mixed with it, though it's quite faint.
The heck? Did she just outright calling me vermin?! And who the hell is Naraku? Holding back the urge to shout, I gulp down the anger into my stomach and try to stay as calm as possible.
"I have no idea what makes you think that I lie about being a human. This body of mine is completely made out of human bones and flesh. I can even prove to have red blood if you still don't believe me."
I can understand that she's being unfamiliar, but to the point questioning about my race is kind of overboard.
"Rin."
Still not believing in my word, Sesshhomaru calls for Rin and she nods to confirm.
"Uh huh. She really saved me from a youkai back at the forest. She even gave me food! Please let her come with us. Sesshomaru-sama."
She doesn't look like she's hypnotized. Still, that mortal is definitely hiding something. Whatever that is I will find out soon enough and get rid of her...
After a couple of minutes considering, Sesshomaru finally decides to let me tag along if only I can catch up and not getting in her way.
Then she turns around and walks straight into the woods. Jaken, who is now standing up on his feet, chasing after that weirdo in silver hair. "Wait for me! Sesshomaru-sama!"
"By the way, onee-san. Can you tell me your name? I have told you mine but you haven't told me yours yet!"
Rin asks, drawing back my attention to her.
However I hesitate, thinking that I better not giving out my real name when still not fully trust these people, especially that lord of theirs. Who knows what she will do to me?
"My name is S…Sora."
"Sora?"
She repeats my name and I nod, hoping that she won't suspect anything. "Yeah, Sora. And by the way, Rin, your lord sure is a beautiful woman."
Yet she giggles upon hearing my praise. "Hee hee. What are you talking about, onee-san? My lord is a man!"
"Eh? Are you sure that person is a male. Rin?"
I mean look at her, that Sesshomaru person, is way too beautiful to be a male. I know that her voice is kind of deep but there will always be some exceptions…
"Yup I am totally sure. Believe me, onee-san. I have been traveling with him for a long time now." She explains, seeing that I'm not convinced.
Curious, I try to catch up with the lord to take a closer look at the *Man* once more. For sure, he is prettier than any woman I've ever met. And of course a thousand times more beautiful than me.
A Bishounen? There's actually one in this era..?
But more importantly, what is that big fluffy white thing warping around his body?
I stare at the white wiggling thingy, almost drooling. Is it some kind of scarf from animal fur? It must be really soft, I-want-to-touch-it…
Ah! What am I saying!?
In a crucial moment I realize what my hands are about to do and immediately withdrawing them. Slapping my face to snap out of the ridiculous fantasy.
"What a weird girl, hitting herself like that."
Jaken raises his eyebrow and Rin whispers back, showing her concern. "Maybe she's just tired?"
I laugh dryly and let out a long sigh.
What will happen to me from now on? Will I be able to return home? Was it really a right choice to follow them after all? Mom, dad, sister… I miss them already…